This unique program sought to create opportunities for both science content teachers and ELL teachers to mentor each other in learning science content and developing effective strategies for ELL instruction. These teachers were then be able to further contribute to the community of teachers and learners assisting diverse populations of students at their school.

The Adler Planetarium, DePaul University, The University of Chicago, Northwestern University and Loyola University partnered to offer the Capstone program. Each of the participating scientists at these institutions was currently engaged in NASA-funded research, and thus able to provide CPS students and teachers with unique insights into the nature of NASA data and what it tells us about our world and beyond, and also first- hand experience with the research methods used by space scientists.

The Capstone Course for Space Science was a two-year project that had three components: Intensive month-long workshops, Year-long Science Fair Project, Capstone Course in Earth and Space Science

Scale Up was a Loyola-CPS-PRAIRIE Group NSF funded research project studying the role of various elements of the Chicago Math and Science Initiative (CMSI) and other science and math reform efforts in Chicago Public Schools.

Loyola University Chicago along with our partners at the University of Illinois at Chicago worked with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) on one of the most ambitious high school projects ever attempted in an urban school district. As part of the High School Transformation project, we collaborated with CPS teachers and administrators to develop an integrated sequence of science classes that reinforced the content knowledge and critical thinking skills that high school graduates of the 21st Century need. Using an inquiry based teaching approach, students learned science by engaging in science: formulating questions, conducting experiments and analyzing and evaluating the results of those experiments. Please read more about this wide ranging project to change the way science is taught in Chicago.

Designed in collaboration with Chicago Public Schools and area museums, the M.Ed. in Earth and Space Science Teaching program was designed for science teachers in urban settings. The program was designed to fit the busy schedule of inservice teachers. Fall and spring classes were held one night a week, and summer classes provided concentrated, in-depth learning.

Topics in Earth and Space Science, using the IES curricular materials. Each session consisted of a combination of content enhancement and hands on activities designed to enrich the implementation of the IES curriculum throughout CPS.